Page 134 of Their Demon

Mavis was nodding. “What do you want to do, Lil?”

“I want to finish my damn walk,” I said with a smile, confidence filling my chest as my body found its groove again, the ringing in my ears and the tightness in my chest nearly gone.

Nicholas and Aiden exchanged looks, and I thought they would argue with me, but they both nodded.

“Five feet until we get back to the flat,” Nicholas told us.

“That’s fine,” I said before Mavis could jump in with her disagreements. I knew I didn’tneedthem closer, but I wanted them closer. It made me feel better to have my support system with me. I was strong without them, but I was unstoppable with them.

“You alright?” Mavis asked as we resumed our previous pace.

“I’m fine, just embarrassed.”

She grabbed my hand. “Don’t be.” I started to say something, but she shook her head. “Lil, you’re not the only one who gets panic attacks.” She squeezed my hand. “I can assure you of that without a shadow of a doubt.”

I nodded, thankful my friend didn’t see me as weak or broken because she’d witnessed my mini-breakdown, grateful she’d stood with me.

“Holy shit, I almost forgot,” Mavis squealed. “There’s a food truck on the other side of the building selling the best fuckingfish tacos, I swear to Satan. We have to stop for some before we go back inside, okay?”

I agreed, my stomach answering right behind me. Keir’s breakfast cake had been delicious, but it hadn’t kept me full. I could practically taste the tacos already.

The twins ate with us, getting six tacos each, while Mavis and I got four.

They were the best fish tacos I’d ever eaten.

Chapter 54

Nicholas

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Aiden and I shot out of bed as the door was struck, ripping us out of our deep sleep.

“Get your asses out here!” Keir opened the door. “Living room. Now!”

He sounded worried, and my stomach instantly sank to my feet as I could only think of our girl. If something had happened to her…

Aiden barely beat me out the door, both of us still wiggling our pants up and throwing our shirts over our heads.

Lilly was sitting on the couch; Mavis was next to her.

“What’s going on?” my twin asked sleepily.

Lilly and her friend looked up at the same time, both sharing a similar troubled expression. Mavis’s eyes were bloodshot and puffy, like she’d been crying for hours.

“What happened?” My heart was pounding in my chest.

Keir was pacing over by the bar, on his phone, barking at someone angrily. That was not a good sign.

“My mom never came home last night,” Mavis said in a shaky voice, leaning into Lilly, who had her arms wrapped around her.

“Where is she? Have you tried calling her?” I asked, taking a seat on the other couch facing them.

She nodded. “I called her a million times. Keir said when they got back yesterday, she mentioned there were a few more things she wanted to check into. She didn’t tell him what, though. She said the less he knew, the better.” She pressed her lips together in an attempt to push back tears. “This is not like her. She always lets me know if she isn’t coming home.”

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Lilly offered.

Mavis nodded, but she didn’t look like she believed it.

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